Cord assembling apparatus



Feb. 15, 1944. D. o. HANNAN Erm.

CORD ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Dec.` 8, 1942 l /M/ENTo/es ATTORNEY mv mh,

Pafenied. Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFI-cE Dan o. Hannan and samuelv M. Martn, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application .December 8,` 1942, Serial No. 468,232`

1o Claims. Y (01.57-25) This invention relates to a cord assembling apparatus and more particularly l-to an apparatus for use in assembling a plug-fand multi-con.- ductorlcord and in applying a `twist to the conductors. l

It is an objectfof the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus Vfor quickly assembling articles. f 1

In accordance with lone embodiment of the invention, apparatus is 4provided for: assembling a multi-conductor cord to a plug, leavingfthe terminal ends of the cord free :of .the plug. -In this apparatus, a spindle supported chuck is pro. vided with spring clips for engaging and holding a plug in its free end and the head of thechuck has pivoted on it a plurality of conductor terminall engaging clamps resiliently urged to grip the .terminals of a plurality of .conductors by springs individual to each clamp Yand nestedin a` slidable collar normally held against axial movement with respect to the chuck .but releasable for axial movement whereby .all of the clamping jaws may be simultaneously released from the conductor terminals. The spindlemalT be rotated to facilitate wrapping .and attaching a binding wire varound the conductors and plug and for twisting the conductors.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with .the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational `view partly in section of an apparatus embodying the invention showing some of the terminal gripping clamps in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the spindle supported chuck partially in section showing the details of the clamps for holding a plug in the end of the chuck; s

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken sub-K stantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the termi.. nal end of a cord formed in the present apparatus. y T

` Referring to the drawing'whereinlike reference characters designate the same `parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that the apparatus includes a standard I8 having journalled in it a spindle II, whichtis held in place inthe standards by apair of retainer'col'- lars I2 and I3. Formed integrally with the collar I3 is a crank I4 having a vhandle I5 freely rotatable on its `outer end whereby rotation may be imparted tothespindle manually, the collars I2 and I3 being xed to the spindle II :by means of set screws or pins I6 and I1, respectively. The spindle II has, at its left end (Figs. 1 and 2), a cylindrical head or .chuck I8 which is tapered at its left end and has a central socket I9 formed in it for receiving the tip end of a plug 20 to which conductors 2I--2I are to be attached. The plug 28 is provided with-four grooves 22 extending along its outer surface in which the'conductors 2| are to be seated in the completed cord. In addition, the plug 20 has a projecting portion 23, which ts into the socket I9 in the end of head portion i8 of the spindle II. This extending projecting portion`23 of the plug terminates ata shoulder 24, from which the plug tapers downto a placewhere the bases of the grooves in thev plug are approximately lthe same distance lfromtheaxis of the plug'as 'the surfaces of the projecting portion 23. Thefshoulder 2li, when the plug is placed in the spindle head, will engage the end of -the head or chuck I8. By reference to Fig. 2it will be seen that the plug 20 may be held in the chuck I8 at ithe end of the spindle by means of spring clamps '25, of which any desire number may be provided, the spring clamps beingflxed to the head portion I8 and extending out beyond the end of the head portion to terminate in a rounded projection 28, whereby a plug, in being inserted inl the end of the spindle, will engage the rounded portion 26 to ex the springs, which will immediately return tothe position shown in Fig. 2 to hold the plug in the chuck I8.

The tapered end'of the chuck I8 is provided with a series of four slots 21 in alignment with the four slots 42 in the head of `the plug 28. These slots 21 extend from the left end of the chuck I8 at an angle to the axis thereof and terminate in depressions 28. Just to the right (Figs. 1 and 2) ofthe depressions 28, the chuck I8 has notches 29 cut in it for receiving the pvot arms 30-38 of clamps 3I-3I. The clamps 3| are pivotally mounted by means of the pivot arms-30 on pins 32 suitably mounted in the head portion I8 and the vclamps each have a conductor engaging surface 33 and a terminal engag ing pin 34 mounted upon them, the conductor engaging portion being designedl to engage the conductors 2| and hold them in the grooves 22 and 21, whereas the pin 34 will lextend through an aperture 35 in a terminal36, one of which is secured to each of the conductor 2l.

Pivotally connected to each of the clamps 3l is a link 3l, which.is,:in turn, pivoted onv a plunger member 38. The plunger member 3.8 is slid- 21T entre ably mounted within a bore or pocket 39 formed in a collar 40 which surrounds the head portion I8 and is provided with a shoulder 4| adapted to normally engage a shoulder 42 at the juncture of the shank and head portion I8 of the spindle Each of the bores or pockets 39 has a compression spring V43 mounted in it for normally urging they plunger 38 to the left (Figs. 1 and 2), thus to lnormally urge the clamps 3| into engagement with the conductors 2| and terminals 36. However, the plungers 38 are each provided with a handle 44, whereby they may be moved to the right (Figs. 1 and 2) to disengage their respective clamps from the conductor 2| associated With it. Y

The collar 40 has a slot 45 formed in it into which extends a pivot portion 46 of a latch 41. The slot 45 is also adapted to receive compression spring 48, which normally urges the latch 41 to rock clockwise (Fig. 2) to a position where its latching portion 49 will engage the collar |2 and will prevent the collar 48 from moving to the right. However, by compressing the spring 48, the latchingy portion 4 9` may be cammed up out of engagement with the left face of the retainer collar I2 and the collar 40 may then be moved to the rmht to simultaneously release all of the clamps 3| from their kassociated conductors 2| and conductor terminals 3 6. The plug 20 is provided With a circumferentially extending groove 58` 'for receiving servings of wire 5| Wrapped around the conductors 2|- and the plug 20 for attaching the plug V2li and conductors 2|. together.

In the operation of the apparatus, the latch 41 may be depressed and the collar 48 moved to the right, thereby to rock all of the clamps 3| -away from the left end of the head or chuck |8 and a plug 20 maythen be inserted with its projecting portion 23 extending into the central pocket I9 of the chuck, where the plug will be held by the spring 25. As soon as the plug has thus been placed in position, the collar 45 may be pushed to the left to permit the latching portion 49 of latch 41 to move down to position to be vengaged by `the retainer collar |2. After these operations have been performed, a group of four conductors 2| with their attached terminals 33 may be separately clamped in place in the aligned grooves 22 and 21 in the plug 28 and `the head or chuck I8 of the spindle with the surface 33 o the clamp engaging the conductors and the pins 34 extending through the central aperture 35 in the terminals 36. After the plug 20 and conductors 2| have thus been attached to the head portion 8, the spindle may be rotated to apply a serving of wire to the plug and conductors 2|, the serving 5| being wound in the circumferential groove 50. After the wire has thus been tightly wound on the assemblage, it may be soldered to hold it in place and further rotationvmay be imparted to the spindle while holding the opposite end of the conductors 2| to twist the conductors and form them into a cable whereupon the far end ofthe ca'ble may have a serving of twine ory wire wrapped around it to retain it in place, whereby the twist in the wires will be retained therein. v v v While the apparatus described hereinbefore has been described as one in which four conductors may be attached to a single plug,V it will be understood Vthatany desirednumber of conductors may be attached to a plug or plug member in this mannerzby providing the necessary number of clamps for engaging the conductors to be attached tothe plug. .y

v end of the chuck for receiving a plug, means for retaining the plug in said recess, clamps suryroundingl said chuck adjacent said recess for engaging conductors, means for normally urging said clamps vto engage a conductor, individual means for releasing said clamps, and means common to all of said clamps for releasing them.

3. A cord assembling xture comprising a. manually rotatable plug. holding chuck, clamps mounted on -said chuck, a manually operable .plunger connected to each clamp, means'for urging said plungers to. actuate the clamps, and releasable means for normally holding said urge ingmeans in operative position.

l 4. A cord Aassembling fixture comprising a manually rotatable plug holding chuck, a plu-l rality of clamps pvotally mountedvabout the circumference of said chuck for rotation with the chuck, means individualto each clamp lfor resiliently urging them to operative position, manually operable means for individually release ing said resilient means, and manuallyoperable means common to all of said clamps for releasing them. f

- 5. A .cord assembling fixture comprising `a manually rotatable plug holding chuck, a collar rotatable with and slidable longitudinally on said chuck, a plurality of plungers resilientlymounted in said collarclamping means pivoted exterf nally on said chuck, linkage connecting said clamping means and plungers, and means for normally holding said 'collar in a predetermined position longitudinally of the chuck.

6. A cord assembling fixture comprising a. manually rotatable plug Vholding chuck, a collar rotata'ble with and slidable longitudinally. on said chuck, Aapluralty of manually releasable plungers resiliently mounted in said collar, clamping means pivoted .externally on said chuck, linkage vconnecting 'saidclamping means and plungers, and manually operable 'means for normally holding said collarvin a predetermined p'osition longitudinally of the chuck.

7. Av cord assembling fixture* comprising a manually rotatable plug holding chuck, 'a collar 'rotatable with and slidable longitudinally onsaid chuck, a plurality Vof plungers'resilientlymount ed in said collar, clamping means pivote'dexternally on said chuck, linkage connectingvs'aid clamping meansandplungers; 'and alatch for normally holding the collar'in a position for rendering the plungers operative.

8. A cord assemblingv xture comprisingA a manually rotatable plug holding chuck,.a'colla ,r rotatable with and slidable longitudinally on said chuck, a plurality of plungers resiliently molntfl ed inl saidcollar, clamping means pivoted ex,- ternallyon said K chuck, linkageconne'ctin'g., said clamping meansl andplungers, and means'for normally holding saidcollar ina predetermined position longitudinally ,of the chuck, each ofv said Clalllpng means4 being; Droivided with aclamplng surface for engaging a conductor and with a pin for engaging a terminal on a conductor.

9. In an assembling apparatus, a spindle, a spring chuck on the end of the spindle for receiving a plug, individually releasable clamps surrounding said chuck for gripping conductor terminals, resilient means normally holding said clamps closed, a collar slidable on said chuck for supporting said resilient means, and latching means for normally holding said `collar in position to render the resilient means operative, each of said clamping means being provided with a clamping surface for engaging a conductor and with a pin for engaging a terminal on a conductor.

10. A cord assembling xture comprising a manually rotatable plug holding chuck, clamps mounted on said chuck, a manually operable plunger connected to each clamp, means for urging said plungers to actuate the clamps, and releasable means for normally holding said urging means in operative position, each of said clamping means being provided with a clamping surface for engaging a conductor and with a pin for engaging a terminal on a conductor.

DAN O. HANNAN. SAMUEL M. MARTIN. 

